Shock-absorber.



C. F. FBRNALD SHOCK ABSORBER APPLICATION FLED oo1'.24,1912.

Patented M31'. 17,1914.

'UNrTEDsTArns Param: ernten.

fonemas r. FERNALD, or BOSTON, MAssAoHUsnrTs. j

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

l To dll whom 'itmay concern .l Be it known that I, CHARLES F. FERNALD,

of Boston, inthe county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizenof the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1nShock-Absorbers, ot which 5, theffollowingis a full, clear, andexactvdescriptum, reterence being had to the accomppanying drawings,-formmg a part of this 'prevent the sudc specification, in explainingitsnature.

i My inventionrelates to shock absorbers `especially adapted for use inconnection with automobiles.

i The object of my invention is to provide a 'shock absorber in thenature of an attachment which `can' be combined with any of theconventionalforms of springs used in automobiles and which will operateto supplementthe action of the springin yieldin l,` sup ortinfr g Y pTen reflex or'backlash of the spring when the weight of the vehicle orinfluence tending to compress the spring` is suddenly released and whichis so destructive to springs. i

-My invention can best be seen and understood by'` reference to thedrawings, in

. beingfshown as is necessary for the proper which- .l

Figure 1 shows in sideelevation the device embodying my invention, thatportion of` the frame or body of an automobile also springs on one. sideof the machine.

I have shown the device embodying my i invention as applied tothe endsof both the front and rear .springs although it may be applied to eitherspring or to but one end of a single spring as `may be desired,the'device in its`- adaptation to 'any spring or part thereof varyingonly in `mechanical detall, bywhich it -i-s fitted to Acooperate withsuch .i art'. I

p The device comprises the following parts, description thereof 4beingmadev in` relation to one end ofa single springLPivotally supported tothe side'beam of. the frame adjacent `the spring withl whiehthe deviceis coperating, .is a lever, This lever is se-- the vehicle and will alsol Specification of Letters Patent. Application aied october 24, 1912.serial No. 727,519.

Patented M ar. 17, 1914.

cured to .the beam by means 'of a pin 6, orl

other suitable mode of retention which may be secured to the frame bybolting or otherwise. 'lhearrangcmeut of the pin is such that the leverwill turn upon a horizontal axis within and at right angles to thevertical plane of the spring. Thelever is provided with arms 7 and 8,respectively. Ot' these arms the arm 7 is pivotally secured to the endof the spring, a'linkage connection 9 being advantageously emplo edespecially where the endv of the lever is iivotally connecting witheither end of the rear spring. The other arm S of the lever extends,forward to-a pivotal point preferably in about the line of the sidebeam of the frame. Engaging this arm for the purpose of yieldinglyholding the same against movement in a vertical' plane is a C-shaped.spring 10, preferably a leaf spring, the freeends 11 and 12 of whichbear respectively against the upperand lower sides of the lever arm.This spring is attached to the side beam at a point beyond the end ofthe arm 8 by a fixture to which .the spring is secured at about thecenter thereof in order that those portions of the spring extending fromthe point of its retention, the ends 11 and 1Q of which bear against thelever arm. may have proper play as the spring is bent in oppositedirections by a reverse movement of the lever arm. I have also providedmeans whereby the spriiig may be secured to the side beam of the framein such manner that it may be adjusted relatively to the lever arm withwhich it is coperating, or. in other words, in a manner wherebv the ends`11, 12, of the spring may bear against the lever arm at. variablepoints away from its point of fulcrumage as occasion may require.

`The adjustable retention of the spring is obtained as follows: Securedto the side beam of the frame are two plates 13 and 14, respectively. Ofthese plates the plate 13 is a dead plate on which the plate 14' ismounted to be longitudinally adjustable thereon toward or away from thepin 6 or pivotal center of the lever 5. The plates are secured to theframe by bolts 15 which passthrough the respective plates to connectwith the frame in any suitable manner, slots 16 being provided in theplate 14 through which the bolts extend to permit of the adjustment ofthis plate as aforesaid. The spring 10 isl secured to the plate 14.v Forthe purpose off v retaining the spring the plate 11i provided beentightened, provision is,made whereby the plate 14 may become wedged onto the with a projecting piece or member` 17 and to plate 13 by thetightening of the bolts. It

will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that the plate 13 presents a topbearing vsurface and on opposite sides thereof inclined surfaces 21. Theplate 1a on the inner side thereof is formed to engage these `surfacesofthe plate 13 with. theeiiect that as the bolts are tightenedthe plate14 will becomey tightly-wedged on to the plate 13 and ac c'oidingly4held securely in place. The adjustable'retention of the-plate 14 andspring 10 carried by it,'is' further vobtained by an -arin 22'projectingfrom the'rear end ofthe.

platev13in extension'thereof. This arm may be formed integral :withv theplate 14. -It'eX- Vtends backWardly through a piece 2 3 pro-v jectingfrom the plate 13, andis adjustably secured thereto by locking nuts 24..

According to the normal disposition and arrangement of' the parts whenthe 'iiain spring is occupyinga passive position with -no weight bearingthereon the lever 5 will 'be turned to a position vWhere it will exertno influence to bend the spring 10` engaging the .arm 8 of the lever Vonopposite sides thereof as aforesaid.- When," however, the lmain' springbecomes compressedbythe weight of thevehicle or becomes suddenly relaxedby thelessening of such weight creating'a backlash in the spring, theoperation is .as follows: Upon the compression of. the main spring thearm 7 of the lever 5 will become turned down and'the arm 8 thereofturned up to bear against the end 11 of the spring 10 which accordinglybecomes bent to resist by its tension the movement of the lever andconsequently supplementing the action ofthe main springV in yieldinglysupporting the vehicle or weight tending to compress -the spring. Uponhe release of the compressing weight the main spring will becomeextended or reflexed in a direction reverse to that of its compressioncausing a reverse turning of the lever to that above described, and thearm v8 thereof will become turned down to engage 4the end 12 of thespring. 10 which by its tension resists this movement of thelever andaccordingly operates to yieldingly stop reflex action of the main springand restore it to its normal position.

Of course the shock absorbing influence aifordedby the spring 10 will depend upon the size and strength of the spring and the distance which`its respective arms. are engaging the arm 8 of the lever 5 withrelation to 'its point of fulcrumage. A heavy spring having littleiiexibility would neces,

sarily be arranged whereby the ends thereof would engage the lever armat po'ints a short distance removed from its point of fulcrumage orwhere the spring would become little disturbed -or bent by the movementof the l'ever arni. The power exerted bythe spring,

however, in. .yieldingly resisting its ten-v sion the movement of thelever arm increases as'the distance increases at which the ends of thespring are engaging the lever. arm

away fr bm its point of fulcrumage.' Accord-frits ingly a spring ofcomparative easy flexibilf ity may .be arranged to "bear: againstfthelever arm 8 near the outer end thereof, or some distance awayfroiniitspoint ofv fulcruinage. The size or tensional strength ofsprings to tbe employedaiid the position of thesel springs will vary.with thel size 'or weight of the vehicle or conditions of usage.

According to the construction' indicated` vcan easily be 'determined 'bythe adjustable retention of the spring provided for as aforesaid.

What I claim as my inventionisz 1. The combination :in a vehicle, of amai supporting spring, a leverone arm of which .pivotally connects withsaid spring whereby said lever may be moved thereby as said s'piipgbecomes bent, a secondary spring engaging the other' arm of said leveron opposite sidestliereof but yieldinglymains,

taining the same against movement in, opposite directions, and means foradjustably 're-f taining said secondary spring whereby it may beadjusted to'engage said lever arin atvariable points away from its pointof fulcrumage.

2. The combination in a` vehicle, of a frame, a main supporting spring,alever pivoted to said frame, one-arm of which lever pivotally connectswith said spring whereby said lever may be moved thereby' as said springbecomes bent, a spring secured to said frame engaging the other arm ofsaid lever on opposite sides thereof for yieldingly'retaining the saineagainst nieveinent in reverse direction, and means for adjustablysecuring saidspring to said frame, said means comprising in'part anadjust-v able plate onwhich said spring is mounted.

3, The combination in a vehicle of a main supporting spring, a lever onearm of which pivotally'coniiects with said spring wherebysaid levermaybe moved thereby as said springbecomes bent, a -C-shaped springpresenting separate portions the ends of which are 'adapted to engagethe other arm of said lever on oppositesides thereof, fand means foradjustably mounting; said C-shnped spring whereby the ends thereof mayengage.

said lever arm atvariable points mv'ny from its point of fnlcrumage.

4. The lcombination in :i vehicle 0f 'a frame, n,- Inainsupportingspring, a lever 'pivoted to said frame and with one :lrm of which saidmain supporting' spring;r pivotally 'ponneets whereby said lever may bemoved thereby es said spring becomes bent,-

' a C-shaped spring presenting portions the ends of Whih engage theother arm of said CHARLES F. FERALD.

Witnesses JOHN E. R. HAYES, M. E. FLAHERTY.

